Atlantic Skydiving School takes flight to Hants County from Waterville

David Williamson, owner of the Atlantic Skydiving School, is moving his business to South Maitland, Hants County, in light of uncertainty around the Waterville Municipal Airport. (GORDON DELANEY / Valley Bureau)

WATERVILLE — Nova Scotia’s only skydiving school will make the jump to a new location in light of the uncertainty surrounding the Waterville Municipal Airport.

The Atlantic Skydiving School, based at the Waterville airport for the past 40 years, is leaving Kings County and moving to a new location in East Hants, owner David Williamson said in an interview Tuesday.

The school is relocating to South Maitland, where Williamson and pilot Andrew Robertson have bought 28 hectares of land. They plan to build an 850-metre grass airstrip, a 12-hectare drop zone and a hangar for the two Cessna 182 aircraft.

“The Waterville airport is closing, and I’ve made the decision to continue to live and work at what I do,” said Williamson.

He was planning an expansion at Waterville, but that was nixed when Kings County council voted to close the airport Sept. 30 to make way for a rumoured expansion at Michelin’s Waterville plant.

While the global tire manufacturer has said it has no immediate plans to expand, the land is needed in order to compete for expansion projects within the company.

The South Maitland location, to be called the New Scotland Airfield, is being welcomed in East Hants, said Williamson.

“Everybody, from the municipality to the local fire department and neighbours have welcomed us. The tidal bore rafting operators are excited that we’re coming,” he added.

Williamson started skydiving while a student at Dalhousie University in 1975. He later took over the business, “out of a selfish desire to jump,” he added.

He said he has mixed feelings about leaving this area, but had no choice.

“The overall mood at the airport is not very good. … I’m just trying to deal with what’s occurring and maintain things,” he said.

“I’m directing my energy to something that I own and I can use to facilitate skydiving in Nova Scotia.”

He plans to continue operating out of the Waterville airport until it closes in September, cutting short his normal operating season.

It is unfortunate Kings County will be losing his business, he said. “A lot of our business comes from out of the county. And a good portion of it comes from outside of the province.

“We bring tourists here to this area and to Nova Scotia. … I’ve received telephone calls from Afghanistan from Canadian Forces members who want to come here for their first jump.

“The sport is growing in popularity,” he said.

“Skydiving is available now to almost everyone. Families come here to do tandem jumps. Couples have met and married here. One couple was married in the airplane on the way to their first jump.”

He added that skydiving has become more socially accepted and available. Equipment is more comfortable and easy to use and training has evolved over the years.

“With a large influx of Michelin employees, that would be all the more reason to have skydiving, and aviation, as an activity,” said Williamson.

“An area the size and population of Kings County should have an airport.”

The Waterville airport is also home to an aircraft maintenance centre and a flying school that trains air cadets and others each year.

Brian Goldie, owner of the Greenwood Flight School, along with an aircraft maintenance centre, is pondering his future. He said talk of the closure has been hurting his business for the past two years.

He said he is not sure he will relocate the business, which employs a dozen people during peak season.